China: Hu Jia sentenced to 3 1/2 years

Apr 032008
 
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Authorities in Beijing have sentenced AIDS activist Hu Jia to three-and-a-half years’ imprisonment for “incitement to subversion” after he wrote articles online critical of China’s hosting of the Olympics. The sentence was handed down Thursday by the Beijing No.1 Intermediate People’s Court.

We cannot accept this verdict, because the peaceful words Hu expressed are irrelevant to state power. Therefore, the 3 1/2-year prison sentence is inappropriate.

– Hu’s lawyer, Li Fangping, speaking to Mandarin reporter Ding Xiao Continue reading »

China: Hu Jia tried for subversion, verdict expected soon

Mar 192008
 

Hu Jia stood trial Tuesday on charges of subversion.

His lawyers revealed that prosecutors focused on Hu Jia publishing six articles on boxun.com and talking to two overseas media outlets.

Hu Jia didn’t deny these charges during the trial, and his lawyers tried to defend him from the perspective of freedom of speech.

Lawyer Li Fangping said: “We don’t deny the facts listed in the charges, they are in fact what Hu Jia has written and said.”

“But first of all we think freedom of speech must be respected. Second, we think there is conflict between freedom of speech listed in the Chinese Constitution and the charges of incitement to subversion listed in the Chinese Criminal Code. There is a huge gap between us and the prosecutors on how we understand those two things.” Continue reading »

Newsdesk: Hu Jia's trial is on Tuesday

Mar 132008
 

Hu’s lawyer Li Fangping told RFA’s Cantonese service:

“They (the court) officially notified us tonight that Hu’s case will be tried next Tuesday [at the Beijing No.1 Intermediate People's Court]. The indictment is very simple, consisting only of two sentences. The charge is ‘incitement to subvert state power’.” Continue reading »

Bloggers, well-wishers detained, questioned outside Hu Jia's house

Jan 222008
 

Dozens of petitioners went to Hu Jia’s home in eastern Beijing on Sunday, Jan. 20 in an effort to send his wife Zeng Jinyan some milk powder for their baby daughter. But national security police camped outside Hu’s home stopped the petitioners, sending some of them to the Beijing Dispersion Center.

On Sunday, a netizen by the cyber name “Little Hammer” also tried to deliver baby formula to Zeng Jinyan. On his blog, “Little Hammer” detailed his encounter with police there who blocked his way, questioning him for several hours. “How precious freedom is! But Hu Jia sacrificed his own freedom for all of us.” “Little Hammer” wrote. Some other blog posts and messages on the Internet indicate that several more people traveled to Hu’s home on Sunday in hope of either visiting Zeng or giving her milk powder, but seemingly none of them succeeded. Continue reading »

China: Hu Jia-related blogs blocked as netizens try to deliver baby milk to Zeng

Jan 182008
 
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This is the first part of a documentary made by AIDS activist Hu Jia, who was detained on Dec. 27 for subverting state power, and his wife, Zeng Jinyan, who is now at home with the couple’s month-old daughter. The other six parts are available on YouTube. Thanks to John Kennedy for cutting them to size and uploading them. John also has many more links and details, including a proposed “HU JIA, FREE!” campaign. Continue reading »

China: Hu Jia isn't against the Olympics, says lawyer Teng

Jan 172008
 

Teng Biao, a Beijing-based lawyer with a PhD from the China University of Political Science and Law,  said he has been frequently taken in for questioning and warnings by national security police since the arrest of fellow activist Hu Jia on Dec. 27. He told RFA Mandarin service reporter Ding Xiao:

“Sometimes it’s the national security police from Changping county. When things are more serious, then it’s a more senior level of national security police. They basically tell me not to get involved in Hu Jia’s case, and threaten and warn me, saying that I could end up being fired and detained myself if I insist on continuing to represent all these human rights cases.” Continue reading »

China: Hu Jia detained for 'incitement to subversion'

Dec 282007
 

Chinese rights activist Hu Jia, best known for his advocacy work on behalf of those living with HIV/AIDS, has been detained by national security police in Beijing on charges of “incitement to subvert state power,” a fellow activist said.

Hu was detained while in the middle of an exchange of instant messages via Skype with another rights activist, Qi Zhiyong, Qi told RFA’s Cantonese service (ZH).

“I was chatting on Skype with Hu Jia, and it was right in the middle of that conversation that he was detained. The charge was incitement to subvert state power,” Qi said. Continue reading »